Slobberknocker Central Monday Night Recap #238
June 5th, 2000
The Opening Word:
The last couple weeks the WWF has seen their ratings slump a bit from their
peak of a few months ago. It's not an alarming slide, but it's nonetheless a
downward trend. The change in TV viewer habits as summer approaches have
played a part, as evidenced by the share data (TV viewership was down across
the board last week, while the percentage of TV viewers watching wrestling
is about the same as usual), but there's also the definite lack of sizzle to
the WWF product which has kept fans from being wowed. Should the WWF be
concerned? I'd say if they aren't, they should be. Fortunately I don't think
the WWF has its head buried in the sand. I think there's a number of factors
going into the product we're seeing today.
First, I believe the WWF has become more committed of late to going back to
their old formula of longterm planning. The WWF always used to plan their
storylines out well in advance, having an idea what they were going to do
anywhere from six months to a year down the road. This has usually been
evident during the summer months, as the fans would know (or suspect) for
some time what the main event at SummerSlam would be. Then, after
SummerSlam, we'd have a pretty good idea what the WWF was planning to do at
the next WrestleMania. In recent years they've moved away from this a bit,
having to book more on the fly to combat WCW, as well as deal with injuries
and talent jumps to the opposition. With a deeper roster now than perhaps
ever in the past, I believe the WWF feels a bit more strongly about their
ability to pull off plans conceived farther in advance.
Another major factor may be the uncertainty surrounding the USA/Viacom
situation. I haven't written about it here before, but if you follow things
on the Net you know the basics of what is going on behind the scenes. For
those who don't ...
Basically, the WWF is trying to move their programming from the USA Network
to various Viacom-owned networks. RAW is WAR would air live Monday nights on
The Nashville Network (TNN). Sunday Night Heat would air on MTV. SmackDown!
would stay on UPN, which is already owned by Viacom (and, should Viacom be
forced to sell UPN due to government regulations, there's a chance
SmackDown! could end up on CBS instead). To facilitate this deal Viacom has
offered to buy a chunk of the WWF for something like $100 million.
This would already have been a done deal save for a wrinkle, that being the
WWF's existing contract with USA. USA has the right to match any offer made
to move the WWF away from the network, and right now USA is contending that
they've made a suitable offer to match the Viacom deal. At issue is whether
or not USA has to match all the perks that come with the Viacom deal, such
as promotion for the WWF on all of the CBS-owned radios stations and Internet
sites, the massive cross-promotion the WWF would receive on all the various
Viacom cable and broadcast networks, and the $100 million investment in the
WWF Viacom is willing to make. USA feels that based on the contract they
already have, they only have to match the actual amount being paid for WWF
programming, whatever that amount is. The matter will be settled in court,
negotiations between the two sides having already failed to end the dispute.
Don't forget, as all this is going on, the WWF is also arranging the million
deals necessary to launch the XFL league next spring. They've already cut a
deal with NBC to air games Saturday nights, and UPN will air Sunday night
games. NBC has actually agreed to become a partner with the WWF in the new
league, splitting the start-up costs.
While all this is an explanation of what may be drawing the WWF's attention
from their wrestling product, it shouldn't be viewed as an excuse. The WWF
can't afford to let their shows run on autopilot. Too much predictability
and not enough excitement and the WWF runs the risk of losing fans like WCW
when they latched onto the NWO storyline and stopped being creative.
More than that, the WWF had better make sure they continue to nurture their
talent. Even if the ratings slump and they move away from this incredible
peak they've reached, they need to make sure they keep their wrestlers happy
and fresh in the eyes of the fans. If not they risk a mass exodus, like WCW
suffered earlier this year with the Radicalz. It's a worst-case scenario,
but one that could come about, if the WWF slumps, WCW rises, and suddenly a
bunch of WWF wrestlers eye the greener pastures of the other company.
It's happened before in the WWF, before in WCW, and could damn well happen
again if the WWF isn't careful. As nice as it would be to see WCW finally
back on top, wrestling fans would hate to see it come at the expense of the
WWF. We've already sat through a year of one bad wrestling company and one
good. As good as the WWF has been it's hard to ignore how bad WCW was, and
merely reversing those positions wouldn't be in anyone's best interests ...
except for WCW, of course.
Nitro this week features the return of Goldberg, facing Tank Abbott. There
is also scheduled a Ric Flair versus Vince Russo match in a steel cage.
It'll be interesting to see which of those matches Russo books as the main
event.
RAW should be more of the same of late, with the WWF addressing the four #1
contenders situation created last week on SmackDown! We'll also see if the
WWF continues Chris Benoit's big push, in the form of a streak of clean,
decisive Intercontinental Title defenses. Also expect more King of the Ring
qualification matches.
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WCW Monday Nitro:
Live/Taped: Live.
Length: Two Hours+.
Location: Atlanta, Georgia.
Hosted By: Tony Schiavone, Scott Hudson & Mark Madden.
HOUR ONE:
- Clips recapping the Tank Abbott/Goldberg story are shown.
- "Earlier Today" Tank Abbott & Rick Steiner arrived.
- Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo and their security team come out. Why does
Tony Schiavone insist on calling this a "banner night in sports
entertainment"? When did WCW stop being "wrestling"? (Don't answer that.)
Eric plays Brother Love, welcoming the fans to the "empire" that he
built. He gives us a Millionaire's Club update: Lex Luger (sent home for
disagreeing with the booking) is at home "nursing his busted face." Scott
Steiner faces Vampiro tonight. Kevin Nash has to run the "New Blood
Gauntlet". If he loses, he loses his title shot at the PPV. No
Millionaire's Club members can interfere. Jeff Jarrett faces Sting. Vince
Russo takes over and talks about what hell he's been in since he was
"forced" to leave New York eight months ago. This being Atlanta, Russo
calls out Atlanta Brave John Rocker. Vince promises to make Ric Flair
wish he'd gotten a "brain annerizm" in the steel cage tonight. Bischoff
calls Russo a genius, then says he's going to take the Hardcore Title
away from Terry Funk tonight, and make himself the champion. He finishes
up talking about Goldberg, saying that even though he's never had a
problem with him, his return last week messed up the New Blood's plans.
Bischoff tells Goldberg to pack up his stuff and go back where he came
from. If he interferes in the Kevin Nash match he'll be suspended. Russo
takes another turn on the mic, badmouthing Goldberg, who is shown looking
on in the back. Out comes Goldberg. He takes out R&B Security as Bischoff
& Russo escape.
- Bischoff chews out Russo for getting Goldberg mad. Jarrett comes in and
gripes about defending the belt tonight. Kidman comes in to complain
about Horace. Torrie Wilson just walks away. Ernest Miller mirrors
Bischoff's frustration.
- SHAWN STASIAK/CHUCK PALUMBO vs. KRONIC
Stasiak & Palumbo won the Tag Team Titles from Kronic last Wednesday on
Thunder. The match starts to stretch out a few minutes, looking like it
might actually amount to something. Ernest Miller then comes in, just as
all four men battle to the floor. Miller goes through a pantomime of
forcing the referee to count the wrestlers out, though the ref doesn't
seem to get it, as he sticks out his tongue, boggles his eyes, and acts
like Miller is choking him out. After a minute or ten everyone seems to
figure out what's going on, and Bryan Adams tosses his opponent in the
ring. Miller calls for the bell, declaring Stasiak & Palumbo the winners
via countout. Why didn't he do that to begin with? Funny how WCW said
they were getting rid of DQ's to please the fans, then gave Stasiak &
Palumbo the belts by DQ in a match where a DQ would allow the belt to
change hands. Now, the two retain the belts in the rematch by countout.
Kronic are just setting up a table when--
Kidman chews out Torrie for walking out on him. Major Guns steps in and
Kidman calls her a "stupid bitch". Cut to Scott Steiner, his Freaks, and
Kevin Nash arriving. When asked for a comment by interview girl Pamela,
Nash asks if Goldberg has arrived? When told yes, Nash quips that his
gimmick of being the last to arrive still lives.
- Captain Rection assembles the Misfits in Action. Major Guns says Kidman
yelled at her. G.I. Bro orders them to kick Kidman's ass. What exactly is
the chain of command here?
- Nash and Goldberg share a tender moment.
- G.I. BRO (w/ MIA) vs. KIDMAN (w/ the Filthy Animals)
Why doesn't WCW get that G.I. Bro won't get over if Mark Madden badmouths
the gimmick for being stupid, yet neither Schiavone nor Hudson say
anything positive about him? Even WITH the gimmick Booker T. is still way
over, with this crowd anyway. The match is nothing--Booker punches Kidman
in the corner, waves in Major Guns, Torrie comes in too, and gives Kidman
a low blow. Kidman no-sells it, apparently because he's wearing a cup
(the camera just barely catches him throwing something at the departing
Torrie). Kidman turns around, gets blonked by Booker, and Booker scores
the pin. The forty-three people surrounding the ring then come in and
they all brawl. It's hard to take the Filthy Animals seriously when their
theme music sounds like it's performed by a teenage boy-band.
Tank Abbott warms up backstage.
Miller tries to pump up Bischoff.
- TERRY FUNK vs. ERIC BISCHOFF (w/ Ernest Miller)
A few garbage cans shots and it's all ever, everyone having wandered away
from the ring. What the fu--?!
Miss Hancock comes out, followed by Kimberly and Mike Awesome. Kimberly
accuses Hancock of trying to steal her spotlight. Does anyone else think
Kimberly looks like Shania Twain on steroids? Kimberly tells her to step
off, then bonks her in the back of the head with her own clipboard.
Hancock. Hancock tells Kimberly to get her "fat ass" back in the ring.
Kimberly says she will ... later.
Now Funk and Bischoff are back, having "battled" all during the nonsense
in the ring. Hudson talks about how amazing Funk is, when we've literally
only seen him in action for some twenty seconds. Russo is shown watching
in the back. Funk gets on the mic and threatens to drop his pants. Funk
moons the crowd (we, fortunately, are spared the sight). The Mamalukes
then run in and attack Funk. Funk is chaired, hit with a garbage can lid,
smacked with a broom handle, etc. Bischoff is laid on top, winning the
Hardcore Title. And whatever credibility Funk had managed to give that
belt is flushed down the toilet. I guess this is WCW's answer to Gerald
Brisco winning the WWF Hardcore belt, which was a funny angle, but has
since gone absolutely nowhere, and killed off what Crash Holly had done
for *that* belt.
Goldberg's taping up.
Scott Steiner is next.
- Ric Flair, son Reid and wife Beth arrive by limo.
- SCOTT STEINER (w/ Freaks) vs. VAMPIRO
Steiner talks about a strip club called the "Tongue & Groove", which I
don't think has anything to do with carpentry. Vampiro comes out with the
gasoline can. Steiner tosses Vampiro around like a rag doll. He throws
him into the guard rail, then hits him with a couple chairs. Vampiro is
slammed through the announce desk. God, the Rodney King beating was less
one-sided than this one. Vamp gets a few shots in before being tossed
back into the ring. More token offense from Vampiro, leading to one of
Steiner's girls (I can't spell her name) doing a crossbody off the
top--easily the best move of the show thus far. Both she and Vampiro
no-sell it. Vamp grabs his gas can and lighter, intent on setting her
afire on the ramp. Out comes Sting with the bat. He obliterates Vampiro,
dragging him back to the ring, where Big Poppa Pump gets the win with the
Steiner Recliner. This match runs several minutes into the next hour,
which I'm sure will be used as an excuse if the rating for Goldberg's
match comes in on the low end.
Tank Abbott's on the move.
HOUR TWO:
- TANK ABBOTT vs. GOLDBERG
Abbott looks awful for the few seconds the match lasts. Goldberg just
knocks Abbott off his feet a few times, and delivers a few punches. In
comes Rick Steiner. Cue the Wolfpac music, drawing a pop much louder than
the one Goldberg got. Kevin Nash runs in through the crowd, sucking away
even more of Goldberg's heat. Tank and Rick set up a double clothesline,
but Goldberg ducks. Nash trips Steiner, while Goldberg spears Abbott.
Pin. Geez, the match was nothing, and Nash comes out the bigger babyface
than Goldberg does. I really want to be excited about Goldberg's return,
but WCW's making it pretty hard.
- Goldberg thanks Nash for the assist.
- Pamela interviews Kimberly, who is a bitch. Hey, just doing my part to
get into her character!
- STING vs. JEFF JARRETT
On WCW's "relaxed rules", Mark Madden says "WCW gives the fans what they
want--period!" Uh-huh ... like that countout loss for Kronic, four
straight matches with run-ins, and Eric Bischoff winning the Hardcore
Title? Don't even get me started on what Vince Russo is probably going to
do later tonight. Sting cruises to a victory, scoring a roll-up pinfall
out of nowhere, winning the WCW World Title. Ah, but out comes Eric
Bischoff, who says this was never a title match. Bit of a "Dusty Finish"
there, but given this is the best match we're likely to see tonight,
that's okay. Sting says so what, and goes back to destroying Jarrett,
cranking him into a Scorpion Deathlock, then laying him out with a
guitar.
- During the break Jarrett was stretchered out to a waiting ambulance. Way
to destroy Jarrett's credibility even further. Not only could he not win
a non-title match, but he gets stretchered out as well. He just comes off
looking like a total wimp.
- Awesome and Kimberly come out. Miss Hancock comes out with her clipboard,
which she gives to Kimberly to sign, saying it's a document which would
prevent Kimberly from suing her if she messed up Kimberly's pretty face.
Kimberly calls her "Miss Crabtree", and signs the paper, then we all wait
to see who Hancock's partner is. What partner? When did this become a
mixed-tag match? Like it's a surprise anyway--Diamond Dallas Page comes
out. Kimberly immediately brings up the restraining order she has against
him. DDP holds up the clipboard and says Kim just signed her rights away.
Yeah ... but before she signed it, DDP was already in violation of the
restraining order because he was within 500 feet of her. Eh, whatever ...
MIKE AWESOME/KIMBERLY vs. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE/MISS HANCOCK
Hancock looks utterly ridiculous "wrestling" in her high heels, suit and
wearing glasses. Kim isn't much better. By the way, how many angles did
Russo derail by writing Miss Hancock and David Flair's real-life
relationship into the storylines? Hancock tries to dance, but is shoved
down by Kimberly. As "cheesecake" this rates about two stars, but as a
"match" we're easily in the negative star range. DDP and Awesome FINALLY
tag in, and exchange some moves. Awesome sets up a table on the floor. He
has DDP about beat, but Miss Hancock stands on the table and starts
tearing the slit on her skirt, showing off more leg. Awesome is
distracted, and DDP hits the Diamond Cutter for the win. I think by the
end we got up as high as "DUD" on the star ratings scale, but it may go
higher when you factor in the crowd, which went absolutely nuts for all
this.
Pamela (Paulshock?) says Hulk Hogan has told her there's no way he'll
fight Horace tonight.
- Horace and HARDCORE CHAMPION Eric Bischoff come out. Eric says Jeff
Jarrett's going to be okay, and that we won't see Hulk Hogan tonight (as
Horace is setting up a table at ringside). Cue the NWO music ...
"HOLLYWOOD" HOGAN vs. HORACE
Yes, Hogan has gone back to being "Hollywood". The crowd pops, but not
overly enthusiastically. The cage suspended over the ring lowers. "Hogan!
Hogan! Hogan!" chant from some in the crowd. Hogan goes all extreme on
Horace by hitting him with a chair, then dropping a leg on the chair on
Horace's face. Umm, that's it. Hogan wins. In comes Kidman, and Hogan
sells for all of five seconds before beating Kidman silly and tossing him
through the table at ringside.
Ric Flair tells Pamela that he's going to kick Russo's ass.
Russo's on the phone with David Flair, urging him to hurry to the arena.
- Kevin Nash suits up for his match, which will be our main event tonight.
- RIC FLAIR vs. VINCE RUSSO
Last week Ric Flair, with his family at ringside, had to lose the World
Title to Jeff Jarrett in a bloody, brutal brawl. Would Russo really put
himself over Flair, in Atlanta, in front of Flair's wife and son? To
Russo's credit he does seem to have lost that beer gut he had two months
ago when he first returned to TV. The match starts with Russo doing some
offense and Flair no-selling it. A low kick drops Russo, and from there
Flair methodically (read: slowly and gently) beats on Russo. A chop and
two shoves into the cage is about as physical as this gets.
Suddenly David Flair crawls out from under the ring. The cage, I should
mention, is like the WWF's Hell in the Cell, covered on top, completely
surrounding the ring, allowing a few feet of space between the cage wall
and ring apron. There is a notch cut into it allowing the stage to run up
to the ring. David obviously crawled along under the ramp to get inside
the cage. Anyway, Russo tries to escape, but Reid Flair smashes his
fingers. Ric sets to work on destroying David. Russo, meanwhile, pulls a
ladder out from under the ring. He sets it up and grabs a ceiling section
of the cage roof, which drops open like a trapdoor. Russo and Flair climb
up to the cage roof, glomming off the memory of the Foley/Undertaker
match (Flair even makes a motion to the crowd, asking if he should throw
Russo off). Russo quickly crawls back into the cage, but since the ladder
has been knocked over, Russo takes his one bump of the match and drops
eight feet or so to the mat. Flair comes down and slaps on the Figure
Four. Russo holds out FOREVER (at least a whole minute) without
submitting. At one point he slumps to the mat and it looks like they're
going to do the old "he passed out, but never gave up!" angle.
Finally the MYSTERIOUS RED NOT BLOOD drops from the ceiling, the force of
which (quoting Schiavone) knocks Flair and the referee out cold. David
slaps on a Figure Four of his own, and Russo covers for the pin.
Vince Russo just pinned Ric Flair.
VINCE RUSSO ... just PINNED ... RIC FLAIR.
That ain't right.
For good measure the ref counts to three twice, and since winning wasn't
enough, Russo beats up the referee too. Then he heals the sick, feeds the
poor, and brings about peace in the Middle East.
- KEVIN NASH vs. THE NEW BLOOD
Russo comes back out and says if Nash loses to anyone he loses his
titleshot at the PPV. He also loses it if any Millionaire's Club members
interfere. Nash powerbombs and scores pins (without covering one) over:
Disco Inferno ... Chris Candido ... Johnny the Bull ... Horace ... and
Rey Mysterio, Jr. The rest of the New Blood run in, overwhelming Nash.
Out come Goldberg for the save, returning the favor from earlier. Somehow
in the melee Nash is credited with pins on Stasiak, Palumbo, Awesome,
Konnan, and maybe some others. Eric Bischoff comes out and says because
Goldberg interfered, on Thunder he's going to suspend him. (Why does he
have to wait until Thunder?) Goldberg says if Bischoff suspends him,
"you're NEXT!"
- This Wednesday: Nothing announced.
- Next week: Nothing announced.
Comments:
So who's mightier, Kevin Nash or Vince Russo?
Is giving Eric Bischoff the Hardcore Title, and giving Vince Russo a win
over Ric Flair, in the best interests of WCW? Bischoff booked himself over
Flair and the company suffered. By the time Flair got revenge on Bischoff it
didn't mean anything--Flair's loss to Bischoff had been too deeply ingrained
in the memories of the fans. (It's the same thing that happened with the
NWO. No one ever beat them and put the group away: it just petered out on
its own accord.) Now Russo has a win over Flair and, if he ever does score a
pinfall in revenge, it'll only even up the score, not put Flair over Russo.
Russo has bragging rights he can hold onto for the rest of his life now. Is
that in WCW's best interests, or just Russo stroking his ego? I think the
answer to that is pretty clear.
I think WCW's recent past is coming back to haunt them, as the crowd here,
even though they were in WCW's home of Atlanta, just wasn't that much into
the show until well into the second hour. Even in the opening segment with
Goldberg, the crowd made some noise, but didn't pop anywhere close to as
loud as I expected. They really came alive during Kevin Nash's run-in,
stayed hot throughout the DDP match, were solidly behind Hogan, then died
off after Russo beat Flair. Had the show ended there we might have gotten
another trash riot. As it was the bit with Goldberg at the end "sent the
crowd home happy", though I doubt many fans will have all that many fond
memories of this show when they get a chance to think about it.
I thought this show really showed some signs of improvement. Even though the
first hour was dull as dishwater, things were moving along as well as they
ever have. Hour Two actually wasn't that bad, and I found myself actually
liking some of it. Then Russo beat Flair, and there's just no way I can
philosophically get behind that result. What does it accomplish other than
put Russo over as a mega-badass who can't be beat? No--not can't ... won't.
It's one thing to give a heel WRESTLER that kind of push, but a non-wrestler
who will hopefully never headline a PPV? I hope all the people who
constantly complain every time Vince McMahon appears on their TV screens do
so here, because Russo is pushing himself just as hard as McMahon ever did.
All McMahon has up on Russo now is a Royal Rumble win and World Title
victory. With Russo, can something of that ilk be all that far behind? I
could maybe buy it if I thought this was leading to a big PPV buyrate a la
Austin vs. McMahon at "St. Valentine's Day Massacre", but I just don't see
the match even happening, much less it drawing a good buyrate. It'll be
months until the rematch if Flair loses the match to David at the PPV and
"retires" so he can get his bad shoulder operated on. Russo has built his
feud with Flair in such a way as to kill the confidence in the fans of ever
seeing Flair beat Russo. Even if Flair does, the fans know it will be
because Russo stupidly paints himself into a corner and allows Flair to beat
him. They know Flair will need help from a half-dozen guys to offset the
interference of another half-dozen guys, and as I said above, Flair will
just be evening the score, not going one-up on Russo. Such a match could pay
off if booked right, but with Russo, I'm not sure we can hope he books it
right, much less book it at all. As tainted as the win was this isn't like
one of those meaningless wins Kidman scores over Hogan, or Vampiro over
Sting. This is a guy who never should win no matter what the odds, scoring a
win over a legend, and it only took some red goo and an assist from David
Flair to do it.
Here's your Great American Bash line-up:
* Jeff Jarrett vs. Kevin Nash. World Title Match.
* Ric Flair vs. David Flair. Ric Flair must retire if he loses.
* Hulk Hogan vs. Billy Kidman. Hogan must retire if he loses.
* Sting vs. Vampiro. "Human Torch Match."
* Diamond Dallas Page vs. Mike Awesome. "Ambulance Match."
* The Wall vs. Shane Douglas. "Tables Match."
* Scott Steiner vs. Tank Abbott. "Asylum Match" for the U.S. Title.
Eric Bischoff has been promising for weeks a huge surprise at the PPV, and
this past Wednesday on Thunder he conducted an interview in which he gave
some vague details. Of note were his assertions that it would shake up the
wrestling industry, and that lawyers have been involved in signing, sealing
and delivering the deal, and that there was nothing Vince McMahon could do
about it. The mention of Vince McMahon's name is meant to lead the fans into
believing that a major WWF superstar is about to jump to WCW. While it would
be a surprise (especially to the WWF, which believes it has every WWF star
of note signed to lengthy, ironclad contracts), it's hard to imagine anyone
but the very top WWF stars making any kind of a real impact with their move.
Therefore speculation has centered on the announcement of some kind of deal
which would benefit WCW, be detrimental to the WWF, and actually mean
something to the fans. Numerous theories have sprung up, with many of them
being quickly shot down by WCW itself. Obviously they're loving all the
attention this planned announcement is getting.
It's significant to note that it's been the TV character Eric Bischoff who
has made these statements, and not the real world Eric Bischoff. Were the
surprise a major business deal the odds are news of it would have broken in
the mainstream media long before now. Business deals generally thrive on
media attention: keeping one quiet to play out a wrestling storyline is
pretty rare.
Assuming it's more storyline related, that opens up the possibility that
Bischoff's talk has been nothing but smoke-and-mirrors, and that the chances
of the fans being disappointed by a minor storyline development hyped as
major for the sake of generating heel heat (and boosting a prospectively low
PPV buyrate) become very real. We've seen this happen just this past Monday,
when Bischoff, after promising for weeks a special surprise referee in the
Hogan/Kidman PPV match, finally revealed it would be Hogan's nephew Horace
donning the striped shirt. Whether some kind of celebrity deal fell through,
or Bischoff has been blowing smoke the whole time, the outcome is one the
fans obviously cared nothing about. (It is possible WCW has a swerve up its
sleeve, however, and could deliver a surprise referee come bell time at the
PPV.)
Whatever the surprise is, WCW is delighted everyone is talking about it. The
problem is, though, when everyone anticipates something, it becomes harder
to deliver something that lives up to that anticipation. It happens all the
time in WCW and the WWF. WCW is promising something that will rock the
wrestling industry, and in their entire history the company has only done
four things that have had a significant impact on the professional wrestling
business.
The first was their signing of Hulk Hogan in 1994, which instantly elevated
WCW to the same level as the WWF in the eyes of the public. Hogan had been
out of the WWF for nearly a year at that time, but WCW was able to spin the
signing as Hogan leaving the WWF in favor of their company. There was an
immediate boost in business (which faded fairly quickly, until WCW's next
big innovation).
WCW created Monday Nitro in the fall of 1995, which escalated the entire
wrestling promotion war. Few thought Nitro would work, going up against the
WWF live on Monday nights. It not only worked, it was usually the better of
the two shows, and the ratings winner, for nearly two years.
Much of that success came because of their third big surprise, that of
bringing in Kevin Nash & Scott Hall and creating the New World Order in
1996. The NWO was the hottest angle in wrestling history, until the WWF
surpassed it with the Austin/McMahon storyline a year later.
The only other time WCW seriously shook up the wrestling world was when they
signed Vince Russo away from the WWF in late 1999. At the time it looked
like it would have a tremendous impact, bringing in the guy who helped turn
the WWF around, and robbing them of their top creative mind. In reality the
move hasn't--yet--had the impact everyone initially believed it would. Russo
has yet to turn WCW around, and the WWF was able to overcome the loss of
Russo and go on to even greater success.
It's difficult to imagine WCW doing something that could come close to
having the same impact as any of those four things did. Bringing in a WWF
star will have little impact, unless it's one whose name is on a short list
(the Rock, Triple H, Austin, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels) of those who could
legitimately bring in WWF viewers with them (and of that list Shawn Michaels
and the Undertaker would have the least impact, seeing as how their recent
WWF TV appearances haven't lit the ratings on fire). Bringing in a wrestler
not under WWF contract (such as the Ultimate Warrior, or a current ECW
wrestler) wouldn't have the kind of impact Bischoff is alluding to, nor
would bringing in yet another celebrity. Turning Goldberg heel would make
waves, but would also probably turn off WCW viewers in droves, as Goldberg
is that last legitimate babyface their fans can count on delivering. An
industry deal whereby WCW moves to a new network, changes timeslots, is sold
to new owners, buys into an NFL team, or goes public and sells stock, might
have a serious impact on WCW itself, but the wrestling business as a whole?
And what would it mean to the fans?
WCW has created a mystery in which the clues to solving it lie in Bischoff's
own comments. The question is whether or not his clues are on the up-and-up,
or if he's adding spin to what may be a relatively minor deal. We'll have to
wait and see, and if WCW gets a few people to buy the PPV out of curiosity,
then their goal will have been achieved.
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WWF RAW is WAR:
Live/Taped: Live.
Length: Two Hours+.
Location: Rochester, New York.
Hosted By: Jim Ross & Jerry "The King" Lawler.
WWF RAW:
- Clips of the Undertaker, the Rock and Kane all winning matches on
SmackDown! and earning #1 contender status are shown. Vince McMahon,
accosted by Michael Cole, blames the mess on Triple H's ego. Uh-oh.
- Triple H & Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley enter the arena. Huge "asshole!"
chant by the crowd. The Game tells the to "keep it shut!" He says never
before has the WWF Championship meant so much to so many people. Whoever
has it is, undisputed, the best there is. Triple H talks about the Rock,
Undertaker and Kane all sharing the dream of being the WWF Champion
again. He then goes on to bring up how he could have a big ego for being
WWF Champ, but that it's Vince McMahon who really has the biggest ego on
the planet. Vince comes out to digress, saying Triple H's biggest
accomplishment was marrying his daughter Stephanie. More words are
exchanged and Triple H slaps Vince! Off comes the coat ... AND THE CROWD
POPS! Shane McMahon comes out to give his two cents, threatening to, as
the "Giant Killer", to kill their two giant egos. Triple H and Vince both
pop Shane in the face! Stephanie then slaps Triple H, slaps Vince and
slaps Shane. The McMahon-Helmsley faction is coming apart at the seams!
Out comes the Rock. He says he he's looking at some "steaming, stinking,
smouldering pieces of monkey crap ... being slapped around by a two
dollar slut!" The Rock says he wants his WWF Title shot tonight!
Here comes Kane, and he wants the same thing.
Ditto for the Undertaker.
Vince decides what they'll do is a "Triple Threat Match" between the
Rock, Undertaker & Kane. The winner gets a shot at Triple H. Tonight!
- TOO COOL/RIKISHI vs. T & A/VAL VENIS (w/ Trish Stratus)
Too Cool has Test put away after hitting the Hip Hop Drop, but there's no
ref to make the count (he's down on the floor). Trish comes in with her
boot, but Grandmaster Sexay gets it away and nails Test. Val Venis then
comes in and, I missed what he did, but he covers Sexay for the pin. All
six men are then in and going at it, with Rikishi eventually throwing all
three opponents into the corner and giving them the butt-splash. Trish
then gets in his face. Rikishi threatens to slap her. She flings herself
away, knocking herself loopy in the corner. Rikishi gives her the
stinkface, driving the crowd nuts.
Apologies are passed all around amongst the McMahon-Helmsley Regime.
Crash Holly is then spotted trying to sneak up on Gerald Brisco.
- ROAD DOGG (w/ Tori) vs. CHRIS BENOIT
Benoit quickly, easily, and with a little help from the Dudley Boyz, pins
Road Dogg with a German Suplex. The Dudleyz then grab Tori, intent on
putting her through a table at ringside. X-Pac comes in and saves Tori
with a low blow on Buh-Buh Ray.
Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson are being interviewed. The camera catches
Crash Holly sneaking up from behind. As Crash is looking for something to
hit Brisco with, he and Patterson switch places, Brisco putting on
Patterson's hat. We see this from behind a screen, with a bright light
creating the silhouette. Holly nails Brisco, of course hitting Patterson
instead. Very contrived.
- Michael Cole gets a comment from Kane.
- CRASH HOLLY vs. GERALD BRISCO (w/ Pat Patterson)
Patterson provides Brisco's introduction, Gerald then coming out to "Real
American". Brisco, actually able to get some offense in, stops to so an
Indian war dance. Crash nails him with a garbage can lid. Patterson
throws in his dirty underwear, which Crash gets hold of and puts on
Brisco's head. Patterson then comes in and, somehow, Brisco scores the
pin on Crash. Bad match, but I got a laugh out of Jim Ross saying
"Poop-stain Patterson".
The Undertaker echoes Kane's comments from earlier, namely that tonight
they have no allies and aren't brothers.
A quick look at the Rock.
WWF WAR ZONE:
- THE UNDERTAKER vs. THE ROCK vs. KANE
Triple H comes out for color commentary. As you'd expect the match
consists of someone going for a pin, and the third guy pulling them off.
Triple H gets mixed up in the action and nails the Undertaker with a
chair. He then hits Kane, allowing the Rock to apply the Rock Bottom and
score the pin. Triple H comes in and nails the Rock with the chair too.
- EDDIE GUERRERO/CHYNA vs. DEAN MALENKO/THE GODFATHER (w/ Ho's)
During the match Eddie get knocked out down by the Ho's and Chyna chews
him out for talking a look. Eddie then gets back in and Dean tries a
tilt-a-whirl type move, but Eddie turns it into a cradle and the pin.
Sweet. Eddie apologies to Mamacita and all is forgiven.
- HARDCORE HOLLY vs. FAAROOQ
Hardcore scores a pin literally out of nowhere. I'd check my tape to see
how, but ... it's Hardcore Holly and Faarooq, you know?
Edge, Christian & Kurt Angle are on the move.
- EDGE/CHRISTIAN/KURT ANGLE vs. THE DUDLEY BOYZ/CHRIS JERICHO
Christian notes Rochester is the home of Kodak, leading to their "flash
photography" moment. Angle pins Jericho in an okay but unspectacular
match. Y2J then puts Angle in the Walls of Jericho, allowing the Dudleyz
time to set up a table, which Angle is put through with a 3D.
- THE HARDY BOYZ vs. BULL BUCHANAN/THE BIG BOSSMAN
I can't help but notice that the Bossman & Buchanan get on really late
during the show again. I can only assume the WWF is afraid they'll kill
the ratings while Nitro is on, but if that's the case, why are these guys
on RAW to begin with? T & A appeared in the first match, and they're no
more over than these two. One of the Hardyz pins the Bossman. I was too
busy getting an iced tea to watch this one. The Bossman and Buchanan get
into a shoving match afterwards, with the Bossman leaving Buchanan
laying.
Triple H orders everyone to keep away from the ring.
- Michael Cole gets comments from Triple H. Earl Hebner will be the special
referee in the main event. He then talks to Stephanie, pointing out that
Triple H has taken on all comers, while Stephanie as WWF Champion has yet
to defend the belt. Stephanie asks him who he thinks he is to question
her, and besides, there's no challengers for the title. Enter Ivory and
Jacqueline, both arguing that they deserve shots at the belt. Stephanie
does some quick thinking and announces a women's battle royal for
SmackDown!, with the winner getting a shot at her belt.
- THE ROCK vs. TRIPLE H (w/ Stephanie)
The Rock dominates to start. Very quickly they go to the floor, where the
Rock sets up a move on the announce desk. It goes nowhere. Triple H
delivers a neckbreaker. The Rock is sent into the steps. Double axe
handle off the apron. Back in the ring the Rock rallies, but Triple H
just as quickly reestablishes control. Triple H tries to come off the
turnbuckles, but the Rock grabs him and slams him to the canvas (Jim Ross
adding "that never works!", taking a not-to-subtle jab at Ric Flair). A
two count by the Rock pumps up the crowd. Triple H shoves referee Hebner,
earning a shove in return. The Rock rolls him up and gets another two
count.
Here comes the MHF. Shane hits the apron, only to be knocked off by
Hebner. X-Pac, Road Dogg and Shane all come up, only to be knocked back
down by the Rock, Triple H goes down, and the Rock sets up for the
People's Elbow. It hits--and the count hits two, when Hebner is suddenly
pulled away by X-Pac. Hebner LEVELS X-Pac with a kick to the chest.
Meanwhile Triple H and the Rock are jockeying for position, with the Rock
ending up shoved into Hebner, who crumples to the mat.
Everyone comes in and destroys the Rock. Here comes the Undertaker and
Kane for the save. Bodies start flying, but during the melee the Rock
accidentally hits the Undertaker with a steel chair. Well, turn out the
lights, because that about wraps it up. The Undertaker chokeslams the
Rock, and from there it's just a mere formality for Triple H to crawl
over and get the pin. The Undertaker and Kane come back in to chase the
heels off, but the damage has been done, and Ross ponders what the Rock's
reaction will be on SmackDown! Hot match, closing out what was otherwise
a mediocre show.
- This Thursday: Women's Battle Royal.
- Next week: Nothing announced.
Comments:
Even I'm starting to get bored with the WWF. Tonight's main event was good,
and the opening interview was okay, but the entire remainder of the show
seemed to be completely on autopilot. It's like the show (I think) from two
weeks ago, minus the usual good wrestling matches. I don't think that would
have been all that bad if so many of the matches hadn't been so irrelevant.
The formula tonight seemed to be short, pointless matches capped of with
little bits to please the fans. This was a hot crowd, and for the most parts
those little bits seemed to pay off, but one can't ignore how many of these
matches were quick, unmemorable, and didn't lead to anything new.
(Is "unmemorable" a word?)
I think this show illustrates what I wrote above about the WWF and their
long range planning. They have an idea what they want to do at King of the
Ring and beyond, and for whatever reason they're just not all that concerned
with spicing the storylines up in the interim. To their credit I don't think
this will lead to a big slide like WCW suffered, but it will bore some of
the more casual fans into tuning out, and a ratings drop of a point or two
will open the door for WCW to go roaring past them if something they do
catches fire. This is an especially dangerous trend to start now, what with
the WWF probably jumping to TNN this fall. We all know the ratings will drop
when the change occurs, as TV viewers are notoriously slow to catch up on
such things.
ECW fans will remember how boring their promotion was leading up to their
debut on TNN. Paul Heyman's excuse was always that he was saving his good
stuff for the new show on the national stage. Well, the day came when they
were on TNN and Heyman's few ideas never caught fire with the fans. Now, a
year later, ECW is drawing lower ratings than when they started, and are
desperately trying to get thrown off the network so they can go to USA if
and when the WWF jumps to TNN.
If the WWF is thinking they're saving their good stuff until after the jump
to TNN they'll have to work twice as hard to lure the fans back (or new fans
in) to whatever it is they try to do. Better the WWF goes in all guns
blazing, bringing the maximum number of fans with them. Remember, every fan
they bore away now is a fan WCW might pick up, dazzled by Vince Russo's
unpredictably goofy booking.
Not that I want to see the WWF go all the way in *that* direction.
Nor do I want to see a boring WWF, and a WCW which I'm still not all that
interested in.
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The Bottom Line:
That's enough for this week. Let's put this beeyotch to bed.
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"Slobberknocker Central" and "Monday Night Recap" are copyright 2000 by
John Petrie, and all opinions expressed therein are his own, and not those
of "USLink". Check the "Slobberknocker Central" main page for info on how
to receive the "Recap" free via E-Mail every week.
Volume One, Number 238 of the "Monday Night Recap", June 5th, 2000.